Compare towns
Canaan vs Windham vs Hanover vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Canaan | Windham | Hanover | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
16,038Highest |
8,479 |
1,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
58.1±20Highest 34% above NH |
| Enfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.5%±8.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
33.8%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.5%±7.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$99,330±$21k about the NH average |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$277,900±$56k 31% below NH |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,779Lowest 28% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
14.6%±17.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
23.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±9.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Windham School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Windham High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.